Wish you were here

Saturday, May 19, 2007

A TRULY PINOY GAME: PIKO

Besides the boisterous romping in the pool or river during the lazy summer afternoons, what is a child's life without the usual games? Whether you're a boy or girl, piko is one of the games to learn;otherwise, you may end up spending the day's lull by the sideline bored to tears.

I wasn't very good at playing 'piko. 'Luksong tinik' was more of my game then.

But I also played 'tumba preso' - a game more apt for boys. I had no choice, as my regular playmate then was my Kuya, two years older than me. Nanay would entrust me to his care. Naturally, Kuya's playmates were mostly boys, so I played their games too instead of 'getting bored to tears by the sideline'. :)

Oh, this image brings back good memories of childhood. Like rhodora, I wasn't really so adept at this game when I was little that it was a real challenge for me to outdo those other kids who amazingly could jump much higher than me...But I wasn't really good at it; yet I enjoyed it so much then.

Piko was one of my favorite childhood games. It's great to know that kids play it until now. With patintero, agawan-base, luksong tinik, etc., they're definitely healthier than what a lot of kids do just now which is to just sit at home and play computer games.

My brothers Taba and Pepsi, though quite amiable kids then, would somehow develop mean streaks whenever the moon was full. They would only allow others to play "tumbang preso" if they agreed to play with larger than pang-hilod stones to knock off the can. They played it to the extreme that at times the "taya" would end up with a bloody hand from getting hit by their stones.

It was only when my father came home early from the office one afternoon and caught them. A directive was issued -- "only rubber slippers would be used to topple the can or else."

I didn't play piko (or whatever it's called in Bicol), but I do know the rules for other similar games (Step-No, Dress, Flag, Flower) that I could be the sports commentator. I also developed mini versions that involved the use of fingers instead of feet.

My favorite game was Taguan (I'm so good I could hide in plain sight). I also enjoy running games. I think Sheilamarie meant Agawan Base. I like its one-base variant which we call Insiriktus because it involves some hiding and a fair amount of strategy.

I have seen some variations but as explained below, that is how it is played in the Visayas and Mindanao. And sorry, it may not be truly Pilipino in origin.

8. PIKO

Piko is a game that joins all children of the world together wherever they live, whenever they lived. Piko is unbelievably old. When ancient Roman cities were dug up, drawings of hopscotch lines were found on the stone floors. Everywhere it is played for one aim: to win a place to call one's own. In the Philippines, the game is also known as kipkip, pikuba, laban ang segking.

PLAYING COURT

Stone floor drawn with chalk, charcoal On the ground-drawn with a sharp stick (in this event, masking tape) 5 rectangles arranged vertically, rectangles 3 and 5 are divided equally (3a and 3b; 5a and 5b): no.6 is a drawing of a half moon.

PLAYING COURT

Pamato (maybe a flat stone, a brick chip, the bottom piece of a clay pot or a smooth chunk of window glass)

MECHANICS

1. The players stand in front of a rectangle no.1. Each player takes turn in tossing his pamato inside the 4th rectangle's dividing line. The player who tosses his pamato closest to this line gets to play first. This is called manohan.

2. Only hops and skips are allowed using either the left or the right foot. Landing on both feet is only allowed in the area or areas considered as home or "bahay" of a certain player who has earned it after successfully finishing the game. No other player can step on this area.

3. The 1st player tosses his pamato to rectangle no.1. Neither the player nor the pamato must touch the line otherwise the player losses his turn.

4. The player then tosses his pamato to rectangle no.2, 3a, 3b, 4,5a, 5b and 6.

5. The player then plays the game all over again this time starting from rectangle no. 5.

6. After he has played in the entire rectangle, he tosses the pamato strong enough to pass over rectangle no. 1. Hops passing rectangle no. 5 to 1 then jumps over the pamato.

7. Player picks up the pamato. With his back turned against the rectangular play area, he tosses his pamato towards the direction of the play area. Where the pamato lands, that area becomes his home or bahay.

8. The game starts all over again for the 1st player. The rest continues with the game they have left off.

Piko is a favorite game when I was young. We usually use a stick to carve out lines in the soil under a chico tree or if in the garahe--we use a small broken clay pot as "pamato" and as sort of chalk.

Amazing how old it is as Amadeo shared here. Agawan base is usually played after school and really fun with lots of players. The "star" players are the ones who run fast and saves the hostages hehehehe of the other base :)

A kid's game that I would rather watch others to play, medyo mahiyain ako nuon bata pa( also, medyo wala akong body coordination). But during my high-school years, nilalaro namin ito with our neighbor that I had a crush with.But I really love the patintero game more, me pa-chansing-chansing pa ng konti. :D Ahhh.. those were the days my friend.

O.M.G!!!u would'nt believe it senor..until now i still played piko w/my pamangkins hahaha..i really love it..whew!!!but sometimes i wish there's no week end coz every weekend as a part of my promise we play PIKO and CHATO...but sad to say i always end up KULELAT..wheww!!!hahaha :D

Although at my age, if I make an attempt to play it, I might only cause a severe back pain to myself. Besides, I don't think I can stand on a single leg and slowly lower myself and bend down to pick something up from the ground. That would be torturous for me! Hahaha!

But hey, kulelat or not, that's a wonderful pastime and I'm sure the kids love playing with you!

Life in Manila as observed by a former New Yorker who with a laptop and camera has reinvented himself as a storyteller. Winner of the PHILIPPINE BLOG AWARDS: Best Photo Blog in 2007 and three Best Single Post awards in 2008.